Tag Archives: Moorooduc

On a recent visit to the folks’ property in Moorooduc on the Mornington Peninsula, I was walking the Eucalyptus Woodlot boundary trying to track down an unusual bird call. It turned out to be a small flock of Yellow Thornbills. I have not seen this species on the Peninsula or at the farm before. A great new addition to the local bird list and a first time photo for me…

While visiting my folks on Willowind farm in Moorooduc, I noticed that the New Holland Honeyeaters were spending quite a bit of time in the bare bushes around the birdbath near the back door. When an Eastern Spinebill, a few Brown Thornbills and a White-eared Honeyeater stopped by for a drink or a quick bath, they were chased off by the New Hollands. They can be an aggressive species often fighting with similar sized honeyeaters over a territory or a temporary food source but I have not seen them defend a water source before. There is a bit of water around the local area and even a dam nearby but the birds would have to travel through open unprotected areas. It shows the importance of supplying a protected clean water source for small birds. It also provides a great location to photograph the birds when they come into drink and bathe.

New Holland Honeyeater, Willowind Farm, Moorooduc, Victoria

II

III

White-eared Honeyeater – by placing a rock into a deeper birdbath it allows the bird to bathe from the rock. They need a way to hop out onto the edge again after quick dunk.

I dropped by the folks’ farm in Moorooduc yesterday. They live on a 10 acre block with large pine trees down one side and a Eucalyptus woodlot along another edge. The long driveway is bordered by rows of Willow Trees. Next door is a free range egg farm guarded by several Mareema Sheepdogs that have been trained to guard the chickens from foxes. Given the number of chickens we find in the sheep yards they do miss a few visits by the local foxes. A few raptors also tend to regularly stop by and watch for chicken stragglers. I have counted 24 bird species so far at the farm. The property has a nice mix of native and introduced mature trees as well as some native bushes for the smaller birds. I photographed a few below, along with some nicely coloured fungi.

Brown Thornbill, Willowind Farm, Moorooduc, Victoria

II

III

IV

Female Spotted Pardalote, Willowind Farm

Grey Shrikethrush, Willowind Farm

One of four Dusky Woodswallows roosting in a local tree in the late afternoon sun.

After a morning of visiting the local birding sites, I dropped into the family farm to grab a lunch with the Matriarch and the Patriarch of the family. Afterward I walked down the road with my sister to show her offspring the secret field hidden behind a row of large pine trees. The field is effectively abandoned but once a year bursts into a sea of yellow, indicating Spring is well on its way. In another week or so it will be filled with yellow and cream daffodils.